Grade Eight and Grade Twelve Rites of Passage
The concept and practice of rites of passage are universal and archaeologists have found evidence that such rituals go back to ancient times. In the more modern world, the phrase “rite of passage” was coined by French anthropologist, Arnold Van Gennep, to ease the transition from one social or cultural role to another. He saw there being three stages to taking on a new role or status:
Separation – leaving the familiar
Transition – a time of testing, learning and growth
Return – incorporation and re-integration
The third stage, return, is what the assembly marks and celebrates through the rites of the handing over of a blazer in the case of Grade Eights, taking a pledge and receiving a badge in the case of Grade Twelve, and the singing of the School Song by all.
When the Grade Eights arrived at Collegiate on the afternoon of 17 January, they had left their familiar world of Grade Seven to enter High School. They may have felt slightly uneasy, nervous, not knowing what to expect. All was unfamiliar. They had
experienced Van Gennet’s first stage of “separation”.
The next two weeks were structured to ease their transition to being a high school learner at Collegiate. Grade Eights were assigned an “Old Pot” who was there to welcome the Grade Eight in her care, to share the Collegiate way and how to survive and enjoy high school. Class teachers spent time teaching Grade Eights what they need to know about the school day and what the school offers; The culmination of this period was the Grade Eight “Camp” on Friday and Saturday when the Grade Eights learnt more about the school, bonded as a class, and learnt the school song.
The third stage of the rite of passage – the stage of return, of incorporation into the school as a fully-fledged Collegiate learner was marked at the assembly. The blazer marks a learner visibly and formally as a Collegiate Girls’ High School learner. The placing of the blazer on a Grade Eight by her Old Pot is the welcoming into the fold by the seniors who are the mentors.
A second symbol of incorporation was the swopping of name badges from one new pot to another. This symbolises the collegiality and camaraderie that will develop in the grade as they learn, play, laugh, cry and grow together as a grade.
The rite of passage of the Grade Twelves as they move from Grade Eleven to the senior grade of the school is marked by the saying of a pledge and receiving a badge of office, that serves as a daily reminder to act responsibly and with integrity.
Responsibility, is one of our five values. At the assembly, Grade Twelves pledge to uphold those values, values of responsibility, respect, good work ethic, integrity and compassion.
Congratulations, Grade Twelves. May you have a successful and enjoyable final year of your schooling career.